Back from Borneo

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OK... well it seems that due to some computer issue this site was shut down for three or four days... and my past blogs are all lost. Shame. No way to bring them back it seems... so I will be starting fresh today.

We are on the fab island of Langkawi, up along the northwest coast of Malaysia. Simply stunnng..... or what one could call paradise. This is in part due to the natural beauty of the area / the warm water / the white sand / cheap seafood / etc. But, it is also paradise as it falls on the tail of our 3 days in Borneo. They were a different sort of paradise, but on a more basic level. Borneo was all that I had hoped or thought it would be. Jungle / heat / humidity / orang utans / hornbills / leeches / heat / more heat / proboscis monkeys / fresh fruit / rivers / boat rides / etc. Three busy days and three nights at different lodges. Of course the highlight was our afternoon spent with the red hairy relatives. Am glad that we went the afternoon of our arrival.... as the feeding the following morning was a dissapointment.

We spent about 2 hours there and truly got face to face with the orangutans. Kinda like an African safari where people hope to get really close to the animals... and then when it happens it makes their heart stop. We had these guys swinging over our heads.... walking alongside us on the boardwalk... staring at us from just a few feet away. Could not have been any closer. On one occasion we were advised by our guide that if we do get close we should not make eye contact, do not make any sudden movemements, and do not draw attention to yourself. They are accustomed to people but are still unpredictable. So... as the large orangutan walks past, just 2 or 3 feeet away, it stops on the handrail to stare at everyone. About 6 of us... all watching in awe and staying quiet as we snap a few pics. At this point Luca looks up and waves at it and says "Hi Monkey". Wow... that was a moment. The orang was just staring at him!!! Won't forget that.

The evening jungle walk was only enjoyed by me.... as Riel and Tordes feared the leeches and stuck to the cosy room. So I joined 5 others for a walk through the night.... stick insects, snakes, scorpions, spiders, fireflies, mud, leeches, etc. It was an experience. Funny, the lodge there had a section on their arrival card where they asked for ones blood type??? Hmmmm...

Our boat trip to Sukau was great... the accom was basic. Having only a ceiling fan in that heat makes things tough. The kids hanlded it all well. Our last place there was a hotel... with a great pool. A nice relief after the jungle. Hopped along our two Air Asia flights yesterday and got here in the late afternoon. Pelangi Resort is a nice 4 or 5 star place... though we have not included any meals in our accom as we cannot afford those. Great places to eat nreaby for a fraction of the price. Luca is asleep in his stroller beside me... and I am enjoying the a/c in here. Riel has made a friend, so after a full day by the pool and beach they have retreated to the room.

2 more full days here.... then back to KL before flying up to Cambodia. So much running through my head... but I must go and get our laundry before the little place closes. We get to eat fresh tropical fruit and drink great juices all day. Riel is as brown as mud and Luca has a nice little tan. They are both having fun... handling the flights really well. They truly are troopers when it comes to travel. Finding food for them to eat can be the only challenge... but chicken strips, french fries, suasages and spaghetti can be found almost everywhere. We even had banana bread on the breakfast buffet the other day... so Luca was a happy man.

Hope you can all get this... and I does not get lost in cyberspace once again. Back to the 35 degree heat I go.
m

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Comments

[Mitch]

Glad to you are back in cyberspace
Hey Martin, wondered where you were for the last entries! There are people out here! Glad to hear you are having a great time. Still working too much but now have 4 days off to go visit Darci - yipee. It is about as hot and humid in Toronto as there! Mitch

[Diana Charlton]

Contact again
Nice to be in contact again. Very disappointing that the site was down for a while, but what can you do. Borneo sounded great. I am slowly turning very green. Given Luca's fascination with other parts of the monkey's anatomy you are lucky that is all he said!